Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Sharpened Hooks: Tomb Cats, Revisited

Though many tombs are remote or have hidden entrances, any tombs that are open to the elements frequently attract tomb cats.

Though feral cats descended from our own domestic cats would hardly be considered a credible threat, tomb cats can be truly terrifying. They are vicious, and years of hunting amid the detritus of ancient civilizations have exposed tomb cats to various pathogens, turning the usual diseases they carry into highly virulent strains.

Tomb cats may be found in the vicinity of tombs on hunting forays. They may also hunt in the catacombs themselves. It is believed that larger tomb cats may be found beneath the surface.

As with domestic cats and big cats, tomb cats are predators, though their placement in the food chain varies from dungeon to dungeon. The smaller cats are rarely apex predators, though a family of, say, pseudonatural cats may be an exception.